SAN ANGELO, Texas — The top-ranked Angelo State baseball team will hit the road to Odessa, Texas to continue Lone Star Conference action in a four-game series against UT Permian Basin beginning on Friday, Feb. 16.
#1 ANGELO STATE RAMS (6-2, 6-2 LSC) vs. UT PERMIAN BASIN FALCONS (6-2, 6-2 LSC)
Game 1: Fri., Feb. 16, 2 p.m. | Game 2/3: Sat., Feb. 17, 12 p.m. | Game 4: Sun., Feb. 18, 12 p.m.
Odessa, Texas
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com

LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams bounced back from their season-opening split to complete their first series sweep of the new campaign, defeating Cameron by a combined score of 54-7. Tripp Clark led the way at the plate, going 8-for-13 with four home runs and a triple with 13 runs batted in while scoring seven times of his own.
On the mound, Braxton Pearson twirled a gem in game one, allowing a lone run off five hits as he struck out eight in seven innings of work. Derek Klosowski highlighted the bullpen as he picked up the win in Sunday's series finale throwing 3.1 innings of one-hit baseball while striking out three.

SERIES HISTORY:
The Blue and Gold boast a history of success against UTPB, leading the all-time series against the Falcons with a 30-1 record while averaging over 11 runs a game. Last season, the Rams took three of four against the Falcons within the friendly confines of Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS:
UTPB find themselves third in the LSC with a team batting average of .355 and have utilized these hot bats to find success to start the season. They have taken three of four games against both St. Mary's and Lubbock Christian with Austin Hall leading the way at the plate as he is slashing .400/.515/1.235 and is fourth in the conference with five doubles.
On the mound, Nolan LaChappa leads the starters with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP with nine strikeouts in nine innings pitched thus far. As a staff, the Falcons sit sixth in the conference with a 6.15 ERA.

NCBWA SOUTH CENTRAL REGION & LSC HITTER OF THE WEEK:
Tripp Clark's monstrous performance at the plate netted him Hitter of the Week honors from the Lone Star Conference and the NCBWA South Central Region. He now sits atop the conference in OPS (1.696) and home runs (4) and is tied for first in RBIs (17). Furthermore, he is tied for second in triples (2), third in batting average (.519) and hits (14). To cap it all off, he is the only player in the LSC with over 1.000 slugging percentage (1.148)

NCBWA SOUTH CENTRAL NO.1
The Rams are first in the South Central Region in this week's National College Baseball Writers Association regional polls, receiving 76 points including six first place votes. Colorado Mesa checks in at No. 2 followed by West Texas A&M, Colorado State Pueblo and UT Permian Basin to round out the top five.

QUICK HITS:
- As a team, the Rams are second in the Lone Star Conference in runs scored (79), triples (7) and on-base percentage (.457)
- As a staff, Rams pitching ranks second in ERA (3.26), hits allowed (51), runs allowed (26), walks allowed (19) and opponents batting average (.226)
- Kamden Kelton is second in the conference in on base percentage (.583) and fourth with a .474 batting average
- Austin Beck sits tied for second in the LSC in both runs scored (13) and triples (2)
- The Blue and Gold have two starting pitchers that hold an ERA under one: Dax Dathe (0.87) and Alezeah Gutierrez (0.90)
- Dathe and Braxton Pearson sit tied atop the conference with 18 strikeouts each

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
CONFERENCE FAVORITES:
The Rams were selected as the favorites to take the 2024 LSC crown, earning the top spot in the preseason poll with 503 points, including 38 of the 39 first-place votes. Coming in second was UT Tyler followed by St. Edwards and Lubbock Christian.

NCBWA PRESEASON ALL - AMERICANS:
The Rams had four players selected to the NCBWA Preseason All-American Team, earning First-Team honors was outfielder Jacob Guerrero who was also selected as the 2024 Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year. Being named to the All-American Second-Team is starting pitcher Braxton Pearson, who was named Lone Star Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year and catcher Tripp Clark. Rounding out the honors is utility man Austin Beck who was named an Honorable Mention.